Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Mother charged with neglect after baby's death

A Milwaukee mother is charged with neglect after her baby died, but she is not charged with his death.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 8:51 PM CDT Apr 26, 2013

Mother charged with neglect after baby's death

A Milwaukee mother is charged with neglect after her baby died, but she is not charged with his death.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 8:51 PM CDT Apr 26, 2013

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT WITH NEGLECT AFTER HER BABY DIES IN A CO-SLEEPING SITUATION. LEAVING MANY TO ASK...WHY SHE ISN'T CHARGED WITH THE BABY'S DEATH AS WELL? WISN 12 NEWS MIKE ANDERSON IS INVESTIGATING. HE JOINS US LIVE TONIGHT FROM THE COURTHOUSE WITH SOME ANSWERS. I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH PROSECUTORS AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE TODAY. I WAS ALSO IN COURT AS THE MOTHER OF THE CHILD WHO DIED ONE I WAS ALSO IN COURT AS THE MOTHER OF THE CHILD WHO DIED ONE WEEK AGO TODAY, FACED CHARGES. CLERK:"THE STATE OF WISCONSIN VS. BRENDA MCGEE" 36 YEAR OLD BRENDA MCGEE IS FACING CHARGES OF CHILD NEGLECT IN THE DEATH OF HER 5 MONTH OLD SON JEREMIAH WALKER. BUT SOME PEOPLE INCLUDING MILWAUKEE MAYOR TOM BARRETT BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY SLEEPING WITH BABIES SHOULD BE BANNED. MAYOR TOM BARRETT, MILWAUKEE:"THOSE BABIES NEED TO BE IN THEIR OWN CRIB OR BY THEMSELVES ON THEIR BACK. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CRIB AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CRIB WE'LL GET ONE FOR YOU." THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT SAYS MCGEE FOUND THE BABY FACE DOWN WITH HIS HEAD PARTIALLY UNDERNEATH HIS TWIN SISTER'S ABDOMEN. FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR GENEVIEVE PEEN DID NOT HANDLE THIS CASE BUT SHE HAS INVESTIGATED MANY OTHERS. SHE SAYS A LAW AGAINST CO-SLEEPING WITH AN INFANT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. GENEVIEVE PENN, FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR MILWAUKEE CO.:"IF YOU HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT MAKES CO- SLEEPING ILLEGAL, WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER TELL US THE TRUTH ANYMORE, IF A BABY DIES, THEY'D BE AFRAID TO." PENN SAYS WHILE CO-SLEEPING IS WIDELY CONSIDERED A CAUSE OF DEATH, ACTUALLY IT IS NOT. GENEVIEVE PENN,:CO- SLEEPING ISN'T A CAUSE OF DEATH, THINGS LIKE PNEUMONIA OR SIDS ARE A CAUSE OF DEATH." ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTRORNEY KENT LOVERN SAYS WITHOUT A MEDICAL EXAMINERS DECLARATION THEY CAN'T PROVE IT. KENT LOVERN, ASST. DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MILWAUKEE CO.:"OUR CASES ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE TO BUILD UPON THEM" PROSECUTORS DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE TO CHARGE MCGEE WITH A CO-SLEEPING DEATH, BUT THEY HAVE A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT TWO COUNTS OF CHILD NEGLECT. INCLUDING. A FILTHY REFRIGERATOR WITH MOLDY, SMELLY, ROTTING FOOD. IN THE BASEMENT, TRASH PILED UP, DOG FECES. A MAKE SHIFT STAGE WITH A MOUNTED STRIPPER POLE, CURTAINS AND STROBE LIGHT. KENT LOVERN:"BUT THE DEATH OF THE CHILD ITSELF IS UNCLEAR IN TERMS OF THE CAUSE AND THE MANNER OF THAT DEATH AND THAT HAS TO BE SOMETHING CONCLUSIVE FOR AND THAT HAS TO BE SOMETHING CONCLUSIVE FOR US IN ORDER TO CONSIDER MORE SERIOUSLY A HOMICIDE CHARGE." MCGEE AND THE BABY'S FATHER WHO IS ALSO FACING CHARGES ARE EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT EARLY NEXT MONTH FOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING. LIVE AT THE COUNTY COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN MILWAUKEE, MIKE ANDERSON, WISN 12 NEWS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TELLS 12 NEWS THIS IS THE FOURTH INFANT DEATH THIS YEAR RELATED TO UNSAFE SLEEP CONDITIONS. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOMMENDS INFANTS SLEEP ALONE IN A CRIB, ON THEIR BACKS WITH NO PILLOWS, BLANKETS OR TOYS. IF YOU LIVE IN MILWAUKEE AND NEED A CRIB... CALL 414-286-8620.

Mother charged with neglect after baby's death

A Milwaukee mother is charged with neglect after her baby died, but she is not charged with his death.